Life-preserver.



u s'rans an ion.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

Application filed August 3, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN L. GAL- LAGHER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Life-Preserver, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to life preservers of the kind adapted to be worn by individuals and provided with means whereby they may be secured upon the person.

More particularly stated, my invention comprehends a life preserver having a girdle portion and a breast portion, and also having a chin rest connected with the breast portion, and means forcausing the chin rest to press against the wearers chin or head in order to maintain the wearers head above water.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which said letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a front perspective showing my improved life preserver and worn by a person and ready for use; Fig. 2 is a rear perspective of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective showing the life preserver as it appears when not in use; and Fig. 4 is a section through the chin rest and parts immediately adjacent thereto.

A number of floats 5, 6, 7 are connected together by flexible joints 8, 9, and collectively form a part which I designate as a breast plate. A number of other floats 10 are connected together by flexible joints 11 and formed into a girdle which is secured to the bottom edge of the float 7. The girdle is provided with tie straps 12. Extending from the girdle to the float 5 are shoulder straps 18. The chin rest appears at 14 and is connected to the float 5 by a web portion 15 and is thus adapted to swing. A pair of tensile springs 16 are connected by fastenings 17, 18 to the oppositely disposed edges of the chin rest 14 and the lower portion of the float 5. The tension of the springs gives the chin rest 14 a tendency to normally assume the position indicated in Fig. 3. The chin rest 14 may be conveniently made of cork covered with sheet material, such as rubber. The other float members may he made of cork or any other Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1%, 1916..

Serial No. 43,406.

suitable light material preferably covered with canvas.

The operation of my device is as follows: The parts being assembled and arranged as shown in the drawing and above described, the life preserver is placed within convenient reach of the passenger. As soon as the device is needed it is donned by the wearer as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tie straps 12 being fastened together and the shoulder straps 13 engaging the shoulders of the wearer. The chin rest 14 is bent outwardly and forwardly as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and presses gently but constantly against the wearers chin. If desired, the life'preserver can be put on with the breast plates 5, 6, 7 at the wearers back, and in this event the chin rest 14 will engage and press gently upon the back of his head. The passenger now jumping into the water, or being thrown into the water, as the case may be, is supported by the buoyancy of the life preserver. If, in swimming or in struggling in the water, he moves his head up and down, the chin rest, by gently pressing his head upwardly, tends to keep his head above the water. It should be noted that the chin rest itself has buoyancy and therefore tends to float in the water. Besides this, the tension of the springs 16 causes the float to press upwardly, so that some of the weight of the wearers head is thus transferred to the breast plates 5, 6, 7 and particularly to the breast plate 5. In this connection it may be pointed out that a considerable portion of the effort used in swimming is expended in maintaining the head above the water. The purpose of my invention is to enable the head to be easily maintained above the water, and consequently in such position as to facilitate breathing.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown as variations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a life preserver, a girdle portion, a chin rest for supporting the wearers head in the water, a buoyant breast-plate consisting of a column of buoyant sections articulated together and connecting the girdle portion to the chin rest, means for holding the sections of the breast-plate against the chestof the wearer, and for supporting the chin rest.

2. Ina life preserver, a girdle, a chin rest for supporting the wearers head in the Water, a buoyant breast-plate consisting of a column of sections articulated together and connecting the girdle to the chin rest, means for holding the sections of the breast-plate against the chest of the wearer, and resilient means for supporting the chin rest relatively'to the breast-plate.

" same upon a Wearers person, a chin rest flexibly connected to one of said floats and disposed in a position favorable for engaging the Wearers chin, and springs connected with said chin rest and with the float ad- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the jacent said chin rest for the purpose of causing said rest to press against the wearers chin.

5. A device of the character described comprising a breast plate, means for securing the same upon the wearers person, a chin rest having buoyancy and adapted to float, and a resilient connection from said chin rest to said breast plate.

6. A device of the character described comprising a breast plate, means for securing the same upon the wearers person, a chin rest having buoyancy and adapted to float, a flexible connection from said chin rest to said breast plate, and tensile springs connected with said chin rest and also with said breast plate.

7. In a life preserver, the combination of a buoyant breast-plate, a girdle connected thereto for securing said breast-plate upon the wearers person, and a chin rest resiliently connected to said breast-plate and having buoyancy, for the purpose of supporting the wearers head.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN LYNN GALLAGHER. Vitnesses:

JOHN MAs'rEnsoN,

JOHN J. GALLAGHER.

Commissioner or Patents.

Washington, D. G." 

